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Women's Hockey: Lakers WatchNo. 4 Mercyhurst (14-1-1, 6-0-0 CHA) at Robert Morris (7-3-2, 3-1-0)- When: Today, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.- Where: RMU Island Sports Center, Moon Township- On the air: www.americaonesports.com (live stream), www.hurstathletics.com (live statistics)- What to expect: Mercyhurst faces College Hockey America rival Robert Morris for the first time since losing to the Colonials in the CHA Tournament championship game this past March. That defeat snapped the Lakers' nine-year stranglehold on the CHA title and 11-year streak of conference titles dating back to the 2000-01 season, when they played in the Great Lakes Women's Hockey Association. ... Mercyhurst has a nine-game winning streak by a combined 47-7 score since its only loss of the season, 3-0 to nationally ranked Clarkson Oct. 19. ... The Lakers have allowed one goal or fewer in their past eight games. They had a shutout streak snapped at 303 minutes, 4 seconds with a first-period goal in a 7-1 win against Penn State last Saturday. ... RMU has surrendered two goals or fewer in nine of 12 games. ... Mercyhurst (fourth at 1.38 goals against per game) and RMU (10th at 2.17) rank among the top 10 scoring defenses in NCAA Division I. ... Lakers senior G Stephanie Ciampa, who had a personal shutout streak end at 182 minutes, 10 seconds in that game, has started the season with a 9-0-0 record. ... The Lakers complete the first half of the season this weekend. They begin the second half Jan. 3 with an exhibition game against the Buffalo Bison at MIC. ... The Colonials, who are coached by former Mercyhurst assistant Paul Colontino, had a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2) snapped with a 4-3 loss to Syracuse last Saturday. ... RMU returns home after completing a 10-game road trip with a 6-2-2 record. The Colonials play the next eight games at home. ... Former Mercyhurst G Ashley Harper, a 2011 graduate, is a volunteer assistant coach for the Colonials.-- Victor Fernandes

Jenna Hendrikx knew the Mercyhurst University women's hockey program has lofty goals every year.

Winning isn't a bonus. It's expected.

"It's very refreshing coming into a program where they don't accept losing at all," said Hendrikx, who joined fellow senior Kelsey Welch and junior Kaleigh Chippy in transferring to Mercyhurst after Niagara's program folded in March.

After three seasons at Niagara, where any win was a reason to rejoice, they contacted Lakers coach Michael Sisti in hopes of joining his tradition-rich program. They knew what it meant to beat the Lakers.

"If you beat Mercyhurst, you made your season," Chippy said.

They wanted to win with the Lakers. They wanted to win championships.

"I was lucky to be able to find a spot, especially in a program like this that has such a great history," said Welch, an assistant captain. "To become a part of this in my last year is a really cool experience."

Sisti appreciates having these former Purple Eagles on the team. With 12 new players, Sisti said he has arguably the youngest team in NCAA Division I this season. And although Chippy, Hendrikx and Welch are new to the Lakers, they have experienced the challenges of playing high-level college hockey.

"They're more mature. They've been through a lot of things," said Sisti, who bolstered a young team a season ago with the addition of Wayne State transfers Gina Buquet, now a senior and assistant captain, and the graduated Jill Szandzik.

"We lost a lot of players in number and experience (the past two seasons)," Sisti said. "It just helped having seasoned (veterans)."

Welch appreciates the opportunity to lead this team.

"It's definitely very rewarding for me," she said.

Chippy never imagined being a leader before. But when freshman Maggie Rothgery arrived at Mercyhurst this fall, Chippy helped her former youth hockey teammate from Cleveland adjust to college life. Now they have joined Hendrikx in sparking the Lakers (14-1-1) to one of the nation's best records.

"It's a lot of fun being able to win," Chippy said. "It's different. You have to have a good shift every shift you're on the ice. You have to work hard every chance you get."

Buquet said it took longer than expected to adjust to Mercyhurst's greater expectations a season ago.

"It's definitely a completely different mentality," she said.

But halfway through that season, Buquet said she discovered "it's good to be a part of" this program.

Now Buquet said, "(It's) like we've been here the whole time."

They feel like Lakers. They feel like winners.

"Everyone wants to win all the time (and) win at all costs," Hendrikx said.

VICTOR FERNANDES can be reached at 870-1716 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/goeriehockey. Read the Shootout hockey blog at GoErie.com/blogs/shootout and post comments.